Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-17
THE STORY OF TME FLAGS,
Gem Drums Letter ReconauenAlnR
Their Return % the states.


The Recommendation to return the battie.nass
was made by Gen. Drum In Q letter 20 the secre-
tary OF War, dated April 80, 1857. The let
ter Is long, and concludes: ''Over twenty
years have elapsed since the termination
OF the late civil war. Many OF the prominent
leaders civil and military OF the late Confederate
States are now honored representatives OF the
people In the national councils or In other emil
nent positions lend the aid OF their talents TO
the wise administration OF the whole country.
and the people OF the several States composing the
70 glorious future. Impressed with these facts
nave the honor TO submit the suggestion made
IN this letter for the careful consideration Il win
the letter as follows:
the President, and the AdJutant General
those states whose troops sO CARRIED the
oner TO return them, as herein proposed, the
history OF each Dag ana the circumstances or its
capture or recapture TO Re given.
In regard to the discussion OF the question Of re-
turning the aags by the Cabinet, member OF the
Presidents on1cial family Is authority for the
statement that the subject was never mentioned
In Cabinet until yesterday. There have been only
since the Presidents return from the AdirondacES
At yesterdays meeting the subject was brought
UP for the frst time, and it was very promptly
decided that the Executive had no authority TO
dispose OF the flags
THE FEELING AMONG SOUTHERN PEOPLE.
Among Southern people In w Washington there is
feeling OF regret that the question OF returning
the fiags has been agitated. One OF the most emi-
nent OF Southern men, one who faithfully served
the confederacy, said TO q STAR reporter to-day
80 Tar as know there has never been any re-
quest not even wish, on the part OF the southern
people that these nags should DO returned. do
not think our people care anything about them.
The humilfattng feature OF the matter Is that IL
arouses feeling that We must be " hfpped over
again in order TO keep US In subject IN, and for
something that we have had no hand In"
STOPPED IN TINE.
There is considerable after talk about the battle
ags sensation, but the general feeling appears 70
be that the whole matter was squelched In time
to avoid series OF perplexing DIM
culties to all concerned. No further Information
| about the matter. The Presidents action, OF
course, caused summary halt in all ar.
engagements that were being made, and
the subject was dropped as a dead issue. II Is
| subject OF Cabinet consideration, but all ar.
rangementS were confined 10 the President and
War Department.
CAPTURED UNION FLAGS m rHE South.
It was supposed that all the dags which were cap
tured from the Union Army were returned after
the close OF the war. 1t is learned at the War De
partment, however, that a number OF captured
Union fiags are scattered throughout the
South. Most OF the Union flags were recaptured
at Richmond, whittier they had been forwarded,
but those that were not sent there have not been
returned IL Is also learned that all the captured
Confederate nags are not in the War Department
and It Is known that several are still In northern
cities